Badlands Search and Rescue a possibility for the area

Manny Everett 

Times Contributor

 

SAR Alberta is the provincial association for volunteer search and rescue within the province. Its mission is to assist search and rescue teams in their efforts to provide a superior and dedicated level of service to the people of Alberta.

Search and rescue in Alberta began in the early 1990’s as a grassroots response to an identified need for trained people to look for lost individuals in wildness settings.

Badlands Search and Rescue held an open house and information session to the public at the Rockyford Community Centre on Nov. 26. 

Over a dozen interested individuals from Rockyford and the surrounding area came out to hear and see a PowerPoint presentation by Scott Campbell to possibly organize a Badlands Search and Rescue Team for the area.

Campbell, who started as a volunteer firefighter at the age of 18, continues in services industry today in many different areas and has a passion for the job.

SAR is commonly associated with lost children, floods, dementia patients and fires. 

Today, it is estimated that Search and Rescue Alberta provides over $2.5 million annually in infrastructure support – support of regional police, fire, emergency response, security, first aid – functions throughout the entire province, all provided by volunteers. 

Search and Rescue Association of Alberta is a non-profit organization comprised of more than 1,240 volunteer members in six regions and 38 teams, responsible for ground and inland searches under the jurisdiction of the police within all regions in Alberta. 

There are many ways to show get involved and show your support of Search and Rescue Alberta. You can: 

• Join a search and rescue team in your area and share your skills

• Make a financial donation towards equipment, training needs or for wherever the organization needs it the most.  

• Make your local politicians aware that as a voting citizen you support search and rescue in Alberta and you want the Province to support it too. 

• Hold a fund-raising event in support of Search and Rescue Alberta. 

• Watch for their volunteers in the community. Talk to the volunteers and tell them how much you appreciate their efforts. 

• Provide support during a search or training exercises, meals, equipment etc. Tell others about SAR.

For more information on SAR and joining in on building an organization in the Badlands Area please contact Scott Campbell at badlandssar@gmail.com